Al Khobar Mixed Use | Avci Architects

Al Khobar Mixed-Use project, in which Avcı Architects defined a new work and life form for the Al Khobar region in Saudi Arabia, covers a total area of approximately 60,000 sqm, and includes housing, offices, a hotel and commercial functions as well as a mosque. The project has been selected as the 2019 Architizer A+ Awards Popular Choice Winner in the Residential Multi-Unit Housing category.

The climate and the culture of Saudi Arabia and specifically this location in Al Khobar has specific characteristics that when responded to in architectural terms will generate a unique approach to its architectural development. The site is located in an upscale mixed-use area with residential and office and local retail functions scattered near by the site. The project’s site is on one of these commercial axes which means it has a ‘duty’ to provide sufficient commercial functions along its main street front to serve the local region.

Clearly when there are situations of proximity between public and private or functionally disparate elements coming close together measures have to be taken to protect the privacy of residential functions. This is done through in part orientation of openings on the south side of the office units where openings are diverted away towards the east and west to avoid looking directly at the residential units. In turn residential areas, which have outdoor spaces whether this is on the ground or intermediate levels where these are looked down upon, or directly looked at pergolas or mashrabiya, are used to minimise overlooking. Such measures area also a way of controlling heat gains in to spaces where they are facing the sun.

One of the main principles of sustainable design in architecture is to minimise the direct incidence of the sun on glazed façade elements to minimise heat gain. This works also in parallel with the desire to create privacy from neighbours looking at openings. Thus, the façades are layered in shading elements that are designed appropriately to the orientation of the buildings in relation to the sun. Avcı Architects’ approach would be to create a massing and façade articulation that becomes reminiscent of old Islamic cities where a sense of community is created between neighbours by allowing them the opportunity to interact through some of the adjacencies of such articulated spaces at higher levels in the buildings.